Ferrari heads into space.

Having conquered terrestrial circuits, Ferrari is now heading off into space. Only last month in fact, three containers holding Ferrari "Rosso Corsa" paint arrived at Esa, the European Space Agency, in order to be tested for use in a journey to Mars, the "red planet", on board Mars Express.

Since then, over a period of weeks, a sample of the Ferrari paint has undergone a series of tough tests, common to all elements to be sent into space. From 1st August, the sample, which goes by the amusing name of "Fred" ( Ferrari red paint), has undergone mechanical and thermal tests to check its resistance to vibrations which occur during the launch and also to extremes of temperature.

After "Fred" manages to stand up to all these trials, then it will be officially approved for use on the spacecraft in a special ceremony.